Back in February I made the decision to try reiki for the first time. Before this I had heard reiki spoken about but hadn’t been too sure what was involved or if it would be worthwhile.

Reiki is a Japanese technique that is used to heal physical and mental trauma, and to support mental clarity and spiritual well-being.

During a reiki session, you typically lie down (or sit down) and remain clothed. The reiki practitioner gently places their hands in a series of non-intrusive positions on or near your body. There is no massage or manipulation. The whole person is treated rather than specific areas.

The thing that finally gave me the push to try reiki was hearing Gwyneth Paltrow speak about the emotional impact her c-section had on her. She explained that reiki had been a really healing experience that had helped her to feel restored energetically.

For me, this was one of the first times I’d heard someone put into words exactly how I’d felt ever since my c-section. On the whole I’d felt ok physically, but I didn’t feel quite right energetically and I felt “dulled” compared to my previous self.

So, I decided it was worth a shot. It had been over 18 months since my c-section and I was willing to try something new to help me to feel better.

Before my reiki session

But where to start? Reiki can vary in price (the UK average is £50 a session) and people’s experience with reiki can vary massively too. Some people find it very effective and others report no effects. So it was important for me to find someone who came highly recommended.

A good friend recommended a Reiki Practitioner based in Dulwich called Anja David to me (further info below). I got a good feeling about Anja from reading her website and from her glowing reviews so I booked a session. Her kind and reassuring emails made me feel less nervous about my upcoming session.

Before my session I had lots of questions – what if I don’t feel anything? What if I don’t like it? What if it’s a waste of money? What if it’s awkward? What if it’s just a placebo?

I went into my session with an open mind and tried to limit expectations. I tried to reassure my doubting thoughts that even if nothing happened it would be a (rare) chance to fully relax and a new experience at the very least.

My reiki session

The time of my session arrived and I was greeted by Anja, possibly the most radiant person I’ve ever met! Anja put me at ease instantly and we went through what was involved in the session and I had the chance to ask any questions.

I lay down on the bed and was genuinely so intrigued about what was to come. I wasn’t really sure what I was meant to do. I can remember Anja holding my head in her hands and thinking how am I supposed to feel now?

My mind was racing trying to make sense of what was going on. I can remember having the thought that I was silly for even trying reiki and that it wasn’t going to make a difference. At this point I got annoyed with my thoughts and tried to shut them up by just focusing on my breath.

I started to relax and my mind was satisfied that I could just treat this like a long meditation session. A few minutes passed and I had an overwhelming urge to cry. This was confusing because the only thing I had been thinking about was my breath rather than specific thoughts that had made me sad.

I checked with Anja and she reassured me that was ok and to let it out. So I did. The tears flowed and my mind marveled at the fact that my body was reacting without conscious input from me.

From that point on I just went with whatever feeling came up as Anja worked on each of my chakras. My body continued to react of its own accord and I experienced a range of physical reactions like hot hands, some shaking and some changes in my breathing. Even now, I am still in awe of how my body “took over” and did what it needed to do in that moment.

As part of the session, Anja told me that my sacral and throat chakras were badly blocked. The blocked throat chakra made sense to me as I’d felt like I’d lost confidence in what I had to say and looking back it’s no coincidence that I had been finding it so hard to blog! Knowing that my sacral chakra was blocked helped me to make sense of the “numb” and disengaged feeling I’d had since my c-section.

One of the most intriguing parts of the session for me was when Anja focused on grounding my energy. Although Anja was holding my feet I actually felt a lot of sensation in my c-section scar.

For the first time since giving birth, I was overwhelmed with a sense of calm and a feeling of “we did it”. A welcome change from the feeling of fear that I had been carrying around with me!

At the end of the session I was still crying, but this time tears of happiness and relief. I felt like a weight had been lifted and I felt much brighter in myself.

Anja gave me instructions on what to do after my session (mainly to make sure I stayed hydrated) and reassured me that she would be in touch in the next few days to see how I was. I felt like I floated out of the treatment room that night! 🙂

After my reiki session

The next morning I woke up feeling brand new. It’s the only way I can describe it. Anja was amazing after the session too, checking in and offering encouragement.

A few months on, I feel able to finally look back on my birth experience with a sense of calm and appreciation for my body. It’s like I’m able to observe how scared I felt in that moment without having to physically experience that overwhelming feeling anymore.

Would I recommend reiki?

As I mentioned at the start of my post, people can react differently to reiki. But based on my experience and the impact it has had, I would wholeheartedly recommend trying reiki if it sounds like a good fit for you.

You don’t need to be ill to benefit from reiki, it can help anyone to feel a greater sense of well-being.

I would also highly recommend Anja if you are looking for a practitioner as she made me feel safe and supported throughout my session.

Final thoughts

I found my first experience with reiki to be extremely powerful and helpful. My mind can’t explain or reason why I had the physical reactions that I had. Regardless of why, I’m so grateful for how reiki made me feel and I’m so glad that I took the chance to try something new!

Have you had reiki before? How did you find it? Do you have any recommendations for others who are interested in trying reiki? I’d love to hear from you. Please comment below!

As always, thanks for reading.

Love,

Chrissy x

Further information

To find out more about Anja visit East Dulwich Reiki or email her directly at anja@eastdulwichreiki.com.

Reiki: What It Is + Why You Should Consider Adding It To Your Routine